|
|
1. d4
|
This game illustrates how strong a Queen can be. Sometimes it can even outplay two Rooks and a Bishop! But more of that later. |
 
|
| |
|
|
1... d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 Nbd7
|
The main line in the Richter Veresov Attack. Black protects himself from the doubling of Pawns (after Bxf6), but at the same time Bishop on c8 is trapped for a while. |
|
| |
|
|
4. Qd3
|
White wants to play the thematic e4 as quickly as possible to gain space in the center. |
|
| |
|
|
4... e6 5. e4 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. Bxf6 Nxf6 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Be2
|
The position is roughly equal, but now Black attacks the center with another thematic move. |
|
| |
|
|
10... c5 11. O-O cxd4 12. Rfd1 Re8
|
A good move. Now, if 13. Qxd4, Qxd4 14. Rxd4, e5 then Black can be happy. |
|
| |
|
|
13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qxd4 Qxc2
|
Black grabs the free Pawn on c2, but White grabs the initiative! |
|
| |
|
|
15. Bb5 Rf8 16. Rac1
|
All the White pieces have reached active positions, while the Black Rooks and the Bishop are out of play. In other words: The lost Pawn was worth the investment. |
|
| |
|
|
16... Qe4
|
Swapping Queens, please? |
|
| |
|
|
17. Qd6
|
No thanks! |
|
| |
|
|
17... a6 18. Nc6
|
Worth an exclamation mark, I think - and a very picturesque position with two White pieces en prise. 18. -, bxc6 is not desirable because of 19. Bxc6 which pins both Queen and Rook. If Black chooses to take the Bishop instead, then follows: 19. Ne7+, Kh8 20. Ng6+, hxg6 21. Qxf8+, Kh7 22. Rxc8, Rxc8 23. Qxc8 with a solid advantage for White. |
2 comments
|
| |
|
|
18... g6
|
But now the Black Queen is trapped! |
|
| |
|
|
19. Rd4 Qxd4
|
If the Queen moves to the "only" square f5, then the fork after Ne7+ would decide the game. |
|
| |
|
|
20. Qxd4 axb5 21. Ne7+ Kg7 22. f4
|
Giving the White King some air, and threatening g4-g5 winning the pinned Black Knight. |
|
| |
|
|
22... h5 23. Rc7 Re8
|
This turns out to be a bad idea. The Rook should have kept protecting the f7 Pawn, but Black is very cramped. Now comes a surprising sacrifice, denting the Black Kingside completely. |
|
| |
|
|
24. Nxg6 Kxg6 25. Qe5
|
The "silent move". They can be hard to find, when you are attacking, but the threat of 26. Qg5+ winning back the Knight is very unpleasant for Black. |
2 comments
|
| |
|
|
25... Nd7
|
Cutting the Rook on c7 off from attacking the Pawn on f7, and threatening the Queen at the same time. |
|
| |
|
|
26. f5+ Kh7
|
The critical moment of the game. Of course 26. -, exf5 27. Qxe8 was hopeless, but now White has no more checks, and his Queen is still under fire from the Knight. It took me a long time of analysis to find the only solution: Another sacrifice! |
4 comments
|
| |
|
|
27. Rxd7 Bxd7 28. f6
|
Another !. Black has a winning material advantage (even two Rooks vs. Queen is generally better), but White has created a mating net. |
|
| |
|
|
28... Kh6 29. Qf4+ Kg6 30. h4 Kh7 31. Qg5
|
Black can choose between 31. -, Rg8 32. Qxh5 mate or 31. Any move -, Qg7 mate - but he chose to resign instead. One of my best games on Gameknot, and I would like to thank my opponent for the good fight. |
2 comments
|
| |
